WEST Perth continued its unbeaten start to the 2022 WAFL Colts season, while Swan Districts got on the board at the fourth time of asking in Round 4. In this week’s edition of Scouting Notes from out West, we highlight the top performers from those respective games, before taking a look around the grounds and up the grades.

By: Charlie McCormack

WEST PERTH:

#7 Luke Michael

The Joondalup Kinross junior had another strong game, looking a class above as he patrolled the defence and repelled a number of South Fremantle entires. The 18 year-old stationed himself smartly behind the ball, often using his strength and guile to nudge his opponent under the football and intercept mark. He also used the ball well, finishing with 22 disposals and nine marks.

#9 Kane Bevan

Bevan is the prototypical ‘big-bodied’ midfielder that is in vogue in the modern game and the 18 year-old continued his strong form with another prolific performance, notching up 23 disposals and six marks. Despite registering excellent numbers, the Joondalup Kinross product was perhaps not as damaging with his disposals but nonetheless showed his class at stoppages, getting on the move to win a number of important clearances in the last quarter to help seal the result for the Falcons.

#12 Griff Julian

The State 18s squad member brought his own football to Joondalup in the first quarter, racking up ten touches and a goal in the first stanza and getting involved in almost all of the Falcon’s attacking forays. The Ocean Ridge junior is a neat user of the ball, often looking to lower his eyes and hit a short target in the corridor. He also looked as though he had more time than other players with ball in hand and was never rushed into making a rash decision when disposing of the ball. After a dominant first term, he was quelled a touch by the Bulldogs but still finished with 22 disposals.

SOUTH FREMANTLE:

#15 Seth Connor:

The over-ager was instrumental in helping the Bulldogs get back into the game in the second quarter, and worked hard across the game to finish with 28 disposals and nine marks. The Attadale product is not the most skilful player but is a genuine ball magnet who stood up against the star studded Falcons midfield. An interesting prospect having missed the whole of his draft-year with an ACL, after displaying some outstanding form as an underage player for Aquinas College in the PSA competition and at East Fremantle, Connor looks a very good player at Colts level at the moment. 

#33 Roan O’Hehir:

After a quiet start, the 170cm midfielder, imposed himself on the game through the middle two quarters, impressing with his clever ball use and clean handling of the football. The Fremantle City product is only small, but displays good awareness in traffic and as a result, he was often able to evade tacklers in tight spaces and distribute the ball.

#43 Lachlan Turley

The 18-year old defender had a superb start to the game, positioning himself well taking four intercept marks in the first quarter alone to help his side defend an onslaught of pressure amidst a dominant start from the Falcons. The former WA State 19’s squad reading of the play was so good early, that it looked as if he was the leading forward, as he often marked uncontested in his defensive 50. Although his influence dried up after quarter time, he still managed 18 disposals and eight marks.

By: Hayden Narducci

SWAN DISTRICTS:

#10 Riley Hardeman

Bottom-ager Hardeman has kept up his fast start to the season with 29 disposals against the Tigers, the equal most afield. Despite it being his quietest quarter for disposals, Hardeman’s best came in the last quarter using his blistering speed to break tackles time and time again through the centre stoppages. He again used his impressive kicking to set up opportunities for the forwards, and finished the game with a nice goal assist, beating a defender one-on-one on the ground and handing the ball off to an open teammate.

#21 Brayden Jones

After a 30-touch game to start the season, over-ager Jones bounced back from a quiet next two rounds with three goals against the Tigers. In the Swans’ first win of the season, Jones continuously presented well, playing as an undersized key forward. At 187cm, Jones’ biggest asset is his strength. He showed this with a clean mark in the middle of a pack just outside the goal square, which he then converted for his first goal. He finished the game by creating good separation from his man to take a mark, which he calmly slotted for his third and final goal of the game to go with 17 disposals and eight marks.

#38 Darcy Jones

It should come as no surprise that this Jones was one of the best afield. With a quiet game for disposals by his standards having just the 20, Jones managed three very good goals , slotting a set shot from near 50 on a tight angle. Following that up with a snap near the other boundary within 10 minutes of each other in the third quarter. Despite only managing to lay three tackles, Jones consistently showcased his tireless running and pressure around the contest, forcing many turnovers.

CLAREMONT:

#5 Mitch Barron

Alongside Hardeman, Barron led all comers for touches with 29. It took the Tigers a while to get going on the scoreboard, but Barron continued to impress hitting the contest hard and winning plenty of it. He bounced back in the second half, to add 20 disposals to his tally in what was a much better display from the Tigers. In his draft yea, Barron was a part of WA’s state talent academy squad over the summer and will look to cement himself as one of the starting mids for WA come State Champs.

#13 Fletcher Netherway

Maybe the best afield for the Tigers, Netherway was a great contributor for his side going forward. He was vital in their second half push, kicking a good goal in the third quarter and setting up multiple scoring opportunities. Netherway has struggled for consistency early on in the season, but showed a lot of intensity and pressure around the contest. At 183cm, Netherway utilises his body well around the contest and had some great clearances as a result of that.  

#25 Luke Brown

WA’s leading key forward prospect at the start of the year, Brown has had mixed fortunes to start 2022. Brown played the first two rounds, kicking 0.1 and 3.2 before missing his sides round 3 clash against South Fremantle. With the Swans running away early in this clash, Brown took a very good contested mark for the opportunity to kick his sides first, but unfortunately missed one he shouldn’t have. He shook off a quiet first half by scoring 2 straight goals in the second half, taking 5 marks to go with them. Not his strongest of performances, but Brown showed a lot of promise with his efforts in the marking contest and will be metronomic for his sides performances in 2022.

AROUND THE GROUNDS:

By: Charlie McCormack

Peel Thunder returned to the winners list with a comprehensive 42-point win over Perth at Lane Group Stadium in Mandurah. Michael Sellwood put together one of the best individual performances of the round, racking up 31 disposals to go with four goals to be a clear best on ground. Clay Hall also found plenty of the ball for the Thunder, while highly touted tall Jackson Broadbent managed 15 disposals and 24 hitouts. For the Demons, Connor McDonald and Oliver Zolnier Owens both had 28 disposals in a losing cause.

At Leederville Oval, East Perth overcame an early deficit to defeat co-tenants Subiaco by three points. Jordyn Baker was among the best for the Royals with 25 disposals while Tyrone Virgo and Jedd Busslinger also found plenty of it with 21 touches apiece. Subiaco was well served by Ryan Newick (21 disposals) and Jacob Evitt (20), while Koltyn Tholstrup continued his electric start to the season, booting five goals from 15 disposals and eight marks.

UP THE GRADES:

At senior level, Elijah Hewett continued his solid start to the season, managing 13 disposals and three marks in Swan Districts’ upset win over Claremont at Steel Blue Oval. For South Fremantle, draft bolter Steely Green continued his outstanding start to the campaign, picking up 21 disposals and four marks in the Bulldogs’ narrow loss to West Perth in Joondalup.